DawnVertreesJewelry

Moissanite, Diamonds, Raw Gemstones, Engagement Rings

Cornelius, North Carolina 2610 Sales On Etsy since 2011

5 out of 5 stars (521)

DawnVertreesJewelry

Moissanite, Diamonds, Raw Gemstones, Engagement Rings

Cornelius, North Carolina | 2610 Sales

5 out of 5 stars (521)

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Dawn Vertrees

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Dawn Vertrees

Announcement    SHARE THE LOVE!!***Did you get engaged with one of our rings? Were our rings part of your special day? Send us your photos and we'll share them on our Facebook and Instagram page!***

Colorful hand cut gemstone rings make a great gift for that special someone!
You can choose from 14k or 18k white, yellow or rose gold!
Each ring is hand-sculpted by Dawn Vertrees.
Let us design something special just for you!

Announcement

Last updated on Sep 10, 2019

SHARE THE LOVE!!***Did you get engaged with one of our rings? Were our rings part of your special day? Send us your photos and we'll share them on our Facebook and Instagram page!***

Colorful hand cut gemstone rings make a great gift for that special someone!
You can choose from 14k or 18k white, yellow or rose gold!
Each ring is hand-sculpted by Dawn Vertrees.
Let us design something special just for you!

Reviews

Average item review
5 out of 5 stars
(521)
See reviews that mention:
quality 60 shipping 58 customer service 84

About DawnVertreesJewelry

Sales 2,610
On Etsy since 2011
  • Each piece of jewelry is hand sculpted in jewelers wax.
  • Adding my wax model, soon to be cast.
  • Melting the casting grains prior to casting.
  • Adding the melted gold.
  • Newly cast rings...time to start polishing.

Go Home and Make me a Flower.

Go Home and Make me a Flower...
...Those were the words said to me by Master Jeweler, Volker Kracht at the end of our first meeting. I had been looking for ways to take my porcelain work to a higher level, and upon seeing my work in porcelain; Volker gave me the challenge that changed my life. He handed me three pieces of wax and told me “to go home, make me a flower”.

I went into this challenge with some confidence, thinking my techniques for sculpting porcelain would transfer to wax. I was right to a large degree, but in addition unlike porcelain that sets within hours, wax sculpting allowed me all the time I wanted to take in sculpting the finest detail into every facet of my work.

It was truly an eye opening experience!
Upon completion of my first flower in wax, I presented it to Volker. He pulled down his optivisor and studied it carefully. I was sweating bullets. After what seemed like an eternity, he said in his thick German accent “we cast it now.”

Volker took the time with me to explain every aspect of the lost wax process. What an exciting experience that was! And when he was through, he sat us down to talk about our experience. At the end he said, “I was going to retire, but I’ll give you three years to teach you how to make jewelry.” What a gift! I will be forever grateful. It’s been more than 3 years now since Volker took me under his wing. I’ve come a long way, but he will always be my teacher and mentor.


The process...

Here is a copy of my interview with Ryan at Orchids Made Easy, I think it tells the story beautifully with questions and answers.

How Are the Jewelry Pieces Made?

Ryan: The orchid pieces are so intricate. How exactly are they made?

Dawn: It’s a process called “Lost Wax” The method goes back to the Roman days about 4000 years ago and is still used today for making jewelry.
First, I sculpt a wax model which is also called a pattern, it’s first weighed so the amount of metal required to fill the mold (gold, silver, etc.) can be determined.
Then the wax model is attached to a base, and a flask is slipped over the base. Once the model is in the flask, a kind of plaster that looks like pan cake batter called investment, is mixed up, put in a vacuum to get all the air bubbles out of it, and then poured into the flask. It is then left to dry and harden. This takes a minimum of two hours.
Once the investment (cake batter) is dried, the base and flask are removed. Now the piece is put into an oven to burn out my wax model. Next a vacuum is used to force the melted metal into the investment mold. The Investment is washed away and then finally, the piece is cleaned up by filing and polishing it.

Ryan: What materials do you use?

Dawn: I use different metals, Silver is my favorite because it allows me to go bold with my designs. I also create pieces using gold and silver (two-tone jewelry) which adds character as well as depth to my jewelry. I also enjoy casting in Bronze…I have made several Orchid sculptures using the lost wax process and hope to make several more.

Ryan: How long does it take to create one piece?

Dawn: It depends, some pieces can be sculpted in a few days but in most cases, I would like to have a week and up to 4 weeks to make a piece of jewelry or bronze sculpture. It really depends on what the customer wants.

Shop members

  • Dawn Simms (Vertrees)

    Owner, Maker, Designer, Wax Model Artist

  • Missy Simms

    Owner, Customer Service, Marketer

    I am Dawn's daughter. I've worked in the corporate world for many, many years. After a system wide layoff in 2016, I was asked to join her company. We are the perfect team, I take care of the back end so she can do what she does best, DESIGN! :)

  • BAX Street Jewelers

    Jeweler And Master Caster, Diamond Setter, Goldsmith

    Dawn Vertrees has worked with Joe Harrison & Jacob Fulp, of Bax Street Jewelers for many years. They are like family & they know how to cast and treat our unique hand sculpted designs with precision and excellent craftsmanship.

Shop policies

Last updated on August 22, 2018
Each piece is designed and hand sculpted by me using the lost wax method. I have found that working in wax allows me to model the fine details that I see in nature into my work. I can use an assortment of waxes and different tools to get the look and feel I want to show. And because wax is so “workable” I’m able to achieve a far higher level of realism than with any other medium I've found.

I hope you enjoy my enthusiasm.

Accepted payment methods

Accepts Etsy Gift Cards and Etsy Credits
  • Money Order
  • Check
  • Other Method
Returns and exchanges
I gladly accept returns, exchanges, and cancellations
Contact me within: 3 days of delivery
Ship items back within: 7 days of delivery
Request a cancellation within: 24 hours of purchase
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
  • Custom or personalized orders
Questions about your order?
Please if you have any problems with your order.
Returns and exchange details
Being happy with your jewelry is my top priority. I pride myself not only on exceptional jewelry, but the best customer service as well. Please contact me with any questions or concerns as soon as possible after receiving your order.

If you are somehow dissatisfied with your order, please contact me as soon as possible. Items may be returned or exchanged with a post date within 7 days of receiving the item. Pieces must be in the same condition as when they were received, and must be in original packaging. Item must be sent via USPS Priority (or other 2 day method with FedEx or UPS) fully insured and with a Delivery Confirmation.

Customer pays return shipping costs. Customer will be refunded the full amount, less shipping and a small 7% restocking fee to cover my Etsy fees

Custom orders are judged on a case-by-case basis. They are usually not returnable, but in some instances I can take the return for a restocking fee. Please check with me beforehand.

IMPORTANT: Please note: If your Dawn Vertrees Jewelry is worked on by another jeweler or altered by anyone other myself, this will void your warranty. Customer will be responsible for any repair cost.
Payment
Paypal. Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express & (Other)
Shipping
**Please note: Shipping times are estimate only, we do our very best to get every order shipped on time. Inclement weather, holidays and supplies from vendors may delay us. Please contact us if you need an item by a certain date, we are happy to do our best to accommodate.**

Made-to-order items take 3-4 weeks, plus shipping.
Custom Orders: 6-8 weeks, plus shipping.
Items in stock, ready to ship: 1-3 days, plus shipping.
Resizing a Ring: 7-8 Working Days once purchased.

If you have a rush inquiry or would like to discuss a modification to the order, please contact me with your specific request prior to ordering. A rush may be possible, but not with all items.

Shipping:
USA - USPS Priority Mail 2-3 Days with Tracking.
All other Countries - USPS Priority Mail with Tracking:
Note: If you would like another form of shipping, please send me a message.

NOTE: We strongly encourage International buyers to check with their postal service first before purchasing items. Their could be additional fees and or duties that are the customer's responsibility.

Next Day Express Shipping is available, please message me for a quote.
Additional policies and FAQs
WARRANTY: All Dawn Vertrees Jewelry Designs come with a 1 year warranty, please contact us as soon as there is an issue or repair needed.

IMPORTANT: Please note: If your Dawn Vertrees Jewelry is worked on by another jeweler or altered by anyone other than myself, this will void your warranty. Customer will be responsible for any repair cost.

MADE-TO-ORDER Items: I'm usually working on several orders at one time, please allow up to 3-4 weeks for these pieces to be made and shipped.

Ready to Ship Items: 1-3 days

COMMISSIONS / CUSTOM Pieces: At this time, all custom orders due to their complexity which take much long to hand sculpt, please allow 6-8 weeks to ship. Thank you so much for your understanding!

www.dawnvertrees.com